On the Job
Attorney Denasha Scott’s Practice
Attorney Denasha Scott is a partner in the Stafford Rosenbaum’s Milwaukee office. She serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and co-chairs its Foundations & Nonprofits Team.
Denasha serves as counsel to individuals and families regarding appropriate estate planning arrangements to carry out their goals and objectives. Examples of Denasha’s work in this area include:
- Drafting of wills, trusts and other estate planning documents
- Complex gift and estate tax planning techniques
- Probate and trust administration
- Estate and gift tax return and fiduciary income tax return preparation
- Representation before the IRS and Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Denasha also serves as counsel to businesses and professional practices on a wide variety of ongoing business needs. Examples of her work in this area include:
- Acting as general counsel and business advisor
- Business succession planning
- Business and tax planning
- Organization and development of corporations, LLCs, and partnerships
- Shareholder’s agreements
- Corporate governance and compliance
- Contract drafting and negotiations
- Corporate restructurings, joint ventures, spin-offs, mergers, and acquisitions
- Stock purchase and asset purchase agreements
Denasha counsels nonprofit organizations and foundations on all aspects of nonprofit law and tax exemption. Examples of her work in this area include:
- Startup of nonprofit organizations
- Income tax exemption, property tax exemption, sales tax exemption
- Continuing compliance with the complex federal and state regulations applicable to non-profit organizations and their officers and directors
- Governance and corporate procedures
- Organizational change, changes to articles and bylaws, non-profit mergers, spin-offs, joint ventures, strategic alliances, creation of subsidiaries, and other reorganizations
- Fiduciary duties of officers and directors and avoiding liability risks
- Endowments, planned giving and charitable trusts
Denasha’s Education
- University of Wisconsin Law School (J.D., 1997, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif)
- Beloit College (B.A., 1994, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)
Denasha’s Professional Recognition and Awards
- Life Fellow, Wisconsin Law Foundation (2023)
- Wisconsin Law Journal Women in the Law Award (2015)
- Selected by peers as a Wisconsin Rising Star in estate planning (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012)
- The Best Lawyers in America (since 2024)
Denasha’s Publications and Presentations
- Co-author, “Legal and Financial Aspects of Tax-Exempt Organizations,” National Business Institute, November 2009
- Denasha has taught and spoken to numerous organizations, businesses, and community leaders on estate planning and nonprofit law.
Denasha’s Professional Memberships and Activities
- American Bar Association
- Real Property, Trust & Estate Section
- Business Law Section
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
- Business Law Section
- Taxation Section
- Milwaukee Bar Association
- Association for Women Lawyers
- Attorneys for Family Held Enterprises (AFHE), Board of Directors
